No third time lucky for Bradford Bulls as Featherstone complete hat-trick

BRADFORD Bulls slumped to an eighth consecutive defeat as their season of woe continued against Featherstone Rovers.

Leading 12-10 at the interval, the Bulls had been on course for a shock victory.

Yet the second half of the game had a depressing familiarity and the Bulls collapsed far too easily and failed to score again.

Relegation to League One is a growing threat as the season heads to round 18.

The only saving grace this weekend is the failure of other teams in the relegation battle.

The Bulls started the game on minus two points and probably need ten wins from the remaining 13 games to survive. Mission impossible? Quite possibly.

Although boosted by the return of centres James Mendeika and Ross Oakes, there was a setback before kick-off when winger Jonny Campbell suffered a recurrence of a leg injury.

Loanees Mikolaj Oledzki and Cameron Smith were both missing with shoulder injuries, half-back Dane Chisholm was ruled out with a knee problem, and both winger Ethan Ryan (ankle) and half-back Joe Keyes (concussion) had suffered knocks the previous weekend against Dewsbury.

The two sides were meeting for the third time this season with the Bulls seeking a first victory after a 21-13 defeat in the Challenge Cup and a 44-18 defeat in the Championship at the LD Nutrition Stadium.

The Bulls got off to a great start when, after six minutes, Colton Roche collected a short pass from captain Scott Moore and plunged over the line. Oscar Thomas added the conversion. But this was not to be a case of 'third time lucky'.

Promotion-chasing Rovers soon got back on level terms with Anthony Thackeray pouncing on a kick through defence by Keal Carlile and Michael Knowles shooting between the posts.

The Bulls shrugged off the setback and began to lift the home crowd with some spirited surges and strong tackles.

Full back Brandon Pickersgill put good pressure on Josh Hardcastle to prevent Featherstone taking the lead with 18 minutes gone.

Things steadily improved for the Bulls who were initially showing a real determination to get their season back on track.

With 24 minutes on the clock, James Bentley twisted over the line to score the Bulls' second try following good work again by Moore. Although it was extremely blustery, Thomas delivered a second precision kick to put Bulls ahead 12-6.

The Bulls should have gone further ahead, following a burst down the right wing, as Moore and Oakes fed Illiess Macani. The speedy winger had only one player to beat as well as options inside – but hesitated, made the wrong choice, and ran into the tackle 20 yards out. It proved to be the turning point of the game.

Although the ball was switched to the opposite flank, Omari Caro committed a forward pass just a yard short of the line.

The mood among the Bulls supporters was now a mixture of frustration and optimism but poor defence allowed Featherstone's Kyle Briggs to squeeze between legs and go over the line for his side's second try. Fortunately for the Bulls, Knowles made a mess of the conversion.

Featherstone were growing in confidence and recapturing their sparkle.

Ian Hardman was denied a 'try' after the linesman ruled that he had stepped into touch.

Macani then encroached at a tackle near the Bulls line but Rovers failed to take advantage. Instead, the Bulls won possession, and advanced to the opposite end of the field where Liam Kirk was tackled inches short of the line.

But the change in attitude and performance after the interval was alarming.

The Bulls switched off at the back and allowed John Davies to chase his own short kick and score a try. Knowles added two points from the kick and Rovers were ahead for the first time in the game.

It was now a question of resolve. Would the Bulls roll over and have their bellies tickled as they so often have done this season under pressure?

The answer, unfortunately, was yes.

Pickersgill slipped in a tackle when the Bulls defence was not set and Bradford-born Jack Ormondroyd, the son of the former Bradford City striker Ian, sprinted 45 yards, virtually unchallenged to add another four points.

With Knowles converting the kick, the Bulls now trailed by ten points and were losing their way in the game completely.

Ross Peltier conceded a soft penalty right in front of his own posts. Rovers opted to add two points to their tally courtesy of Briggs.

The sun may have been shining over the stadium in the second half but the mood among the home fans had become increasingly gloomy.

Sam Hallas crossed the line for the Bulls but the try was disallowed for a forward pass. Little was going right.

But when Thackeray's attempted drop-goal was charged down it opened the door for the Bulls to get back in the game.

Caro broke down the right flank yet could not find the gear change needed to get past Rovers' last man Hardman.

There were just four minutes to go when Featherstone scored a fifth try through Matty Wildie. The former Wakefield player skipped past a tired looking Jon Magrin before Briggs added another two points.

Home fans were already streaming for the exits as things got even worse. Josh Hardcastle added his name to the scoresheet with his team's sixth try. Briggs added the extras.

From leading by two points at the interval, the Bulls had lost by 24 points. It is not looking good and, without major improvement, the battle for survival will soon be lost too.

The Bulls Under-19 side, meanwhile, beat Wakefield Trinity 25-18 in a curtain raiser to the game.